Method of recording and synchronizing panoramic images and motion

Abstract

An imaging system comprising a panoramic visual image display, an associated directional sound playback device, and an associated motion reproduction device is disclosed. The imaging system conveys visual, sound and motion information related to a particular viewing direction to provide a realistic experience for the viewer. The imaging system can also comprise a panoramic visual image recording device capable of recording panoramic images, an associated directional sound capturing device capable of recording sound, and an associated directional motion capturing device capable of recording motion. Recorded panoramic images, sound and motion can be synchronously recorded to a common time code for simultaneous playback.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising the steps of:
 recording panoramic visual images with a panoramic image capturing device; 
 recording motion of the panoramic visual image capturing device to produce captured motion data; 
 synchronizing the captured motion data with the panoramic visual images captured by the panoramic visual image capturing device; and 
 associating the captured motion data with a particular image view corresponding to only a portion of the panoramic visual images. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the motion of the panoramic visual image capturing device is captured with a gyroscopic motion sensor. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recorded motion comprises linear velocity of the panoramic image capturing device. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recorded motion comprises rotational velocity of the panoramic image capturing device. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recorded motion comprises acceleration of the panoramic image capturing device. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recorded motion comprises pitch and/or yaw of the panoramic image capturing device. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising capturing motion from at least one additional motion capturing device. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one additional motion capturing device is positioned remotely from the panoramic visual image capturing device. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising recording sound associated with viewing directions for the panoramic visual images. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the sound is recorded by a sound capturing device mounted on the panoramic visual image capturing device. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising capturing sound from at least one additional sound capturing device positioned remotely from the panoramic visual image capturing device. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the panoramic image capturing device comprises a panoramic mirror.